NEERA1000: Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NEERA1000: Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium
Duration: 10/01/2001 to 09/30/2006
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Forage-based livestock systems generate nearly two-thirds of the agricultural income in the states of the Northeastern U.S. Much of the agricultural land in the region is best suited for forage production because of soil, site, and climatic limitations. Sustainability of agriculture in the region depends on keeping forage-based livestock systems competitive and profitable while protecting the environment. Because of the increasing costs relative to income associated with harvested forage-based systems, many livestock producers are using more pasture-based systems as a means of reducing expenses. Yet, the technological base of scientists and resource people to support sustainable forage-based livestock systems has decreased across the region. This necessitates coordination among the remaining researchers and educators, and collaboration with livestock producers to develop and implement the technology that will increase the competitiveness and profitability of pasture-based systems in the region.
The Northeast research and extension directors approved the concept of developing a Northeast Pasture Research and Extension Consortium in July 1995. A Planning Committee was formed of researchers, educators, and livestock producers. Its recommendations regarding the Consortiums mission, objectives, long-term and short-term goals, membership, leadership structure, and oversight were approved by the directors in February 1996. Nominations for the Consortium membership were solicited from both the private sector (producers and agri-business suppliers) and the public sector (land-grant university research and extension directors, ARS, and NRCS) in July 1996; members were appointed in September 1996; and the Consortium held its first meeting in January 1997. Meetings have been held annually with the fifth meeting in March 2001. Attendance has ranged from 40 to 60 persons. At the last meeting, the private-sector members were strongly supportive of continuing the Consortium.
The mission of the Consortium, as adopted by the membership, is to link livestock graziers and federal, state, land grant, and private research and extension groups into partnerships that will identify, develop, coordinate, and promote pasture research and extension leading to economically, socially, and environmentally sound and sustainable grazing-based livestock production systems for the Northeastern U.S.
Selected accomplishments of the Consortium to-date are summarized in Attachment 1.
Objectives
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To develop and evaluate decision-support information and tools that help producers make appropriate plant, animal, and business management decisions.
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To develop pasture-based production systems that support economically sustainable livestock production levels and meet environmental expectations.
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To upgrade and enhance the recently created website, the NE Grazing Guide (http://www.umaine.edu/grazingguide), in order to disseminate pertinent pasture-based technology to users.
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To facilitate, review, and provide support for grant proposals on pasture-based research and extension topics consistent with Consortium priorities.
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To work directly with livestock producers to determine and address their concerns and needs involving pasture forage production, livestock nutrition and health, pasture and supplemental feed allocation, as well as pasture facilities, layout, and design.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Decision-support software is developed and released that can model a full range of pasture-based production systems. Available for use by resource people to help producers make appropriate farm management decisions that increase their profitability.
- Collaboration with users provides better insight into what pasture-based information is required to improve the rate of adoption and make grazing more profitable for livestock producers. Improves the viability of the livestock industry in the NE.
- Grant proposals are based on priorities identified by users. New funds awarded for pasture-based research and education programs. Livestock producers involved in proposals and the conduct of on-farm research and field demonstrations.
- Grazing Guide website is kept current and informative. Increased viewership and dissemination of new pasture-based technology to those seeking the information. Results and recommendations are available to users in a more timely manner.
- Exchange of ideas and experiences with users is ongoing. Builds trust between the user community and public-sector providers. Assures relevance and accountability of programs supported by the investment of public and private funds.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
One of the primary objectives of the Consortium is to disseminate new and existing grazing technology to producers and other users. The structure of the Consortium facilitates the linkage of users and providers of this information. Many of the specific priorities identified by the Consortium members in 1998, address the educational needs of producers.
Each of the grant proposals, supported by the Consortium to-date, have contained a strong educational component. It is clear from the discussions with producers over the last five years that they support the need for continued research, but they want existing research knowledge packaged into usable information for both beginning and experienced graziers.
One of the discussion topics at the last Consortium meeting was the opportunity to link NE providers of grazing technology in a joint educational effort. This would include Cooperative Extension, NRCS/GLCI, American Farmland Trust, and agri-business suppliers. One of the action items agreed upon was to develop such a grant proposal during CY2001 with major emphasis on education, outreach, demonstration, and applied research.
Organization/Governance
The Consortium is lead by cochairs, one each from the public and private sectors. In addition, the past cochairs, the incoming cochairs, and two members-at-large serve as the Executive Committee. The term of the cochairs is one year. The incoming cochairs assume leadership at the end of each annual meeting. The shared leadership between the public and private sectors is important to the success of the partnership. The Executive Committee handles the business of the Consortium between annual meetings and provides the continuity needed from year to year. Members of the Executive Committee are elected by the membership.
Literature Cited
Krueger, C. R., and H. B. Pionke, eds. 1998a. Grazing in the Northeast: Assessing Current Technologies, Research Directions, and Education Needs, NRAES-113. Ithaca, NY: Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. 218 p.
Krueger, C. R., and H. B. Pionke, eds. 1998b. Priority Pasture Research and Education Needs: A Supplement to the Proceedings from Grazing in the Northeast: Assessing Current Technologies, Research Directions, and Education Needs, NRAES-113S. Ithaca, NY: Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. 12 p.